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Trading away the dance-pop trifles of their hits for a faceless stylistic shuffle, the duo seems to be tiring of itself, too. We’re going to be stuck with the Chainsmokers forever. Though the unctuous duo of Drew Taggart and Alex Pall are probably not destined for decades of unqualified success, their insipid spin on EDM’s big-money boom has become as much an eye-rollingly omnipresent part of our national fabric as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Most living humans in the Western world have likely had the unfortunate sensation of having a Chainsmokers hit stuck in their head, as gross as gum on a hot bus seat; after all, their Coldplay collaboration, “Something Just Like This,” seems made only to ooze from department-store speakers for eternity. There’s even a goddamn feature-length film based on the M83-aping “Paris” in development. Like so many modern American atrocities, the Chainsmokers are just something we’re going to have to endure.

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Trading away the dance-pop trifles of their hits for a faceless stylistic shuffle, the duo seems to be tiring of itself, too. We’re going to be stuck with the Chainsmokers forever. Though the unctuous duo of Drew Taggart and Alex Pall are probably not destined for decades of unqualified success, their insipid spin on EDM’s big-money boom has become as much an eye-rollingly omnipresent part of our national fabric as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Most living humans in the Western world have likely had the unfortunate sensation of having a Chainsmokers hit stuck in their head, as gross as gum on a hot bus seat; after all, their Coldplay collaboration, “Something Just Like This,” seems made only to ooze from department-store speakers for eternity. There’s even a goddamn feature-length film based on the M83-aping “Paris” in development. Like so many modern American atrocities, the Chainsmokers are just something we’re going to have to endure.

On his second solo album, fueled by unspecified personal misfortune, the former Sandwell District member finds emotional resonance in the interface between techno and post-punk. Ever since Mudd Club DJ Johnny Dynell played Ian Dury, the Flying Lizards, and the Slits as a cheeky response to the 1970s’ anti-disco backlash—the guitar music still “had a basic beat, and the basic beat was disco”—dance music and post-punk have only become more comfortable bedfellows. Same goes for techno and other members of the drum-machine music family, from electronic body music to industrial. Such connections have been explored in recent years by crate-digging producers with a yen for abrasive electronics, including Minimal Wave founder Veronica Vasicka, Berlin’s Phase Fatale, Dominick Fernow as Vatican Shadow, and Los Angeles-based producer and graphic designer Juan Mendez, aka Silent Servant. On Shadows of Death and Desire, his second album for Fernow’s Hospital Productions, Mendez skillfully renders t…

LG’s Gram 17 was on display at CES 2019 and we got our hands on the ultra-thin, ultra-light device featuring a beautiful 17-inch display Should I Buy The LG Gram 17?The Gram 17 is an impressive bit of kit, but it is serving more of a niche audience than it perhaps appears.A laptop with a display any bigger than 15 is perhaps approaching a point where it struggles to be called ‘portable’ due to it’s raw size. However, if that isn’t something that bothers you, the 17-inch display is fantastic for both working and watching your favourite films or series on.Everything else aside the Gram is a beautiful, extremely light choice of laptop that manages to pack a lot of power and utility into an incredibly slim, slick package.

LIKES Updated looksSupreme power and capabilityWide range of trim levelsBetter techAvailable active safety features...DISLIKES ...but they're not standardTop trucks will be very priceySame space inside1,000 pound-feet? Does anyone care?The 2019 Ram Heavy Duty pickup is back and boasts eye-popping powertrain and features for truck buyers. The 2019 Ram 2500HD and related 3500HD are three-quarter and one-ton trucks, respectively, that are new for 2019. Like the outgoing heavy-duty trucks, the new heavy-duty Ram pickups are based on the Ram 1500 light-duty pickups that were new for 2018—except for all the beefy powertrain and suspension bits, of course.

Asus has announced the ROG Mothership at CES 2019, a desktop replacement laptop with a vertical design, detachable keyboard and some incredibly impressive specs. Should I Buy The Asus ROG Mothership?The Asus ROG Mothership is silly in all of the best ways. The 144hz FHD display powered by a Core-i9, RTX 2080 graphics and 64GB of RAM ensure that this monster will run anything you throw at it. The price will remain a massive barrier to entry for the average consumer, as you would expect, but the innovative design direction gives us all hope of seeing something more reasonably priced in this form factor.

The Royole FlexPai is the first flexible phone, but it shows that we still have a long way to go before bending your phone becomes routine Should I Buy The Royole FlexPai?‘Fun but flawed’ is really the only sensible reaction to the FlexPai right now. The foldable display tech is genuinely impressive, but you can’t escape the feeling that it’s not quite there yet.Laggy software, a plasticky finish, and worrying evidence of screen burn mean that right now the FlexPai feels like a sign of where phones are going - but proof that they’re not there just yet.

Despite the typical bloated-album problems like pacing issues and forced collaborations, A Boogie hardly ever loses his Bronx edge. In New York, time moves at its own pace: Facebook is still the social media of choice, CDs are still handed out on the street, and radio DJs still have the power to break a song. Likewise, the 23-year-old Bronx rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie feels like he belongs in a long-gone era. When A Boogie drops in one of his petty, lovestruck tracks on his latest album Hoodie SZN, the quotables could double as a teen in 2008’s AIM away message sent from a T-Mobile Sidekick; when he gets violent, he makes me think that the melodic and stick-talking Tim Vocals has been spiritually resurrected. But it’s all part of what has made A Boogie one of New York’s most essential—and most popular—artists. Because despite Hoodie SZN’s 20 songs facing the typical bloated-album problems like pacing issues and forced collaborations, through it all, A Boogie hardly ever loses his Bro…

On a tape label with links to Hamburg’s Golden Pudel club, the German curator delivers a deep-diving, pitch-shifting DJ mix traversing Alice Coltrane, desert blues, and cacophonous synths and drums. The Berlin-based producer and DJ Çaykh, born Nicolas Sheikholeslami, is a shadow on the wall of the internet, mentioned in passing by those who've admired his remarkable mixes but with almost no presence beyond his SoundCloud. That account reveals that he runs a cassette label dedicated to Somali music; he has released two (excellent) compilations to this effect in recent years, one of which was nominated for an unlikely Grammy. His label’s address is listed as “Berlin, in front of BND building, Germany.” And that’s about it. Sheikholeslami is clearly the sort to let his music speak for itself—and happily, it speaks eloquently. This is the second mixtape he’s produced for Hamburg’s V I S label, and like the first, it’s a strikingly original piece of curation.

Apple’s latest iPad Pros are a very tempting purchase, but should you stick with the tried-and-tested Surface Pro from Microsoft? We help you decide which tablet to buy. Should I Buy The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Or Apple iPad Pro 11in (2018)?Two very competent 2-in-1s, one running Windows 10, the other iOS 12. For many this difference alone will inform the final choice, but both are top-notch tablets.

The Tado smart thermostat (V3+) and remote-control app promise to save up to 30% on your heating and energy bills. Price When Reviewed$149.99Tado is a German smart-heating thermostat that cleverly uses your location to determine when to turn down your heating while you're away from home, and then turn it back up again as you return.

At CES in Las Vegas this week, LG is showing off what can be done with Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) TVs. OLED TVs are already winning the TV picture quality war, garnering praise among consumers and critics for their deep immersive blacks and rich saturated colors. But OLED technology also enables some interesting design choices. Because OLED panels are so thin and flexible, one could theoretically roll up an OLED panel into a tube when not in use and make it just about disappear. Rollable OLED. I call it "ROLED."

Gracefully navigating the intersection of folk-rock and country, the gentle-voiced songwriter turns detailed images of domestic tranquility and promise into reflections on disappointment. For a decade, Canadian singer/songwriter Doug Paisley has turned quiet, specific moments into inquiries on life’s larger struggles. On his 2010 breakthrough, Constant Companion, Paisley used the inevitability of endings to explore understanding oneself, the only possible “constant companion.” For 2014’s Strong Feelings, he mulled death and its uneasy relationship with life, or how their juxtaposition ripples into every wave of existence. And now, on his fourth album, Starter Home, Paisley details the chasm that separates what poet Seamus Heaney described as “getting started” and “getting started again.” These songs examine how the person you are never truly aligns with the person you want to be, especially when you stumble upon a sticking point that’s hard to move past.

Totalling a bulky 40 songs, Terius Nash’s latest project is purposefully and hilariously indulgent, but his marathon session reveals an R&B luminary still working at the top of his game. Much of The-Dream’s underappreciated body of work has been about eliminating distinctions between rap and R&B. He was a trailblazer that brought hardcore rap sensibilities to an edgeless R&B era. Now, as rappers have adapted soulful songcraft as cover for being selfish lovers, the longtime sensualist has become more interested in making a clear delineation between the two.

This Monkey Bread recipe is NOT the sugar cinnamon sweet kind. The flavor of this bread is similar to King’s Hawaiian Rolls with its hint of sweetness but it’s baked into a Pull-Apart Monkey Bread. Golden brown outside and pillowy soft inside.

You’ll have to import it but the battery life and good software on the ZenFone Max Pro M1 is worth the hassle. Here's our full review Should I Buy The Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1?If you’re willing to import it the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 is one of the best budget phones available. It has amazing battery life, unfussy design, a good screen and mercifully stock Android software. It does lack NFC but aside from this we can’t really fault it for the price. As long as you buy from a reputable seller than you won’t be disappointed.

LIKES Good standard equipmentPractical shapeSpacious rear seat (GT models)Handsome interior...DISLIKES ... but it’s a little boringExpensive Gran Coupe lacks automatic brakingCoupe and convertible are now goneThe 2019 BMW 6-Series is a tale of two luxury four- or five-doors: one achingly pretty coupe and a well-equipped practical hatchback. Relieved of its two-door configurations, the 2019 BMW 6-Series is pared down this year to a low-slung four-door, or tall-riding hatchback with different provenances.

It might not have a screen or even a USB port but the HP Tango is a stylish smart printer that will appeal to younger users wanting to print selfies and Instagram photos. Should I Buy The HP Tango?If you’re looking for a high-quality photo-printer that will primarily be used for printing selfies and other postcard-size photos from your mobile devices on a regular basis then the Tango is an absolute bargain. It's stylish too, so not one that needs hiding away.It’s not, however, a good option if you just need a general-purpose printer for use with a Mac or PC.

Huawei has updated its budget Android phone for 2019. It’s faster and better than before, but should you buy it? Read our review to find out. Should I Buy The Huawei P Smart 2019?The P Smart 2019 is a great upgrade from the 2018 model with a bigger screen and better performance. However, as with the original P Smart, Honor's version is better value.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit a punk classic, a paragon of songwriting about the pain and joy of love. The late Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks once told NME: “Before we do a song, I make sure that song is going to stand the test of time.” It was a ridiculous thing to say, especially in 1978. Punk had sprung into the global consciousness a year earlier thanks largely to the release of the Sex Pistols’ debut album, Never Mind the Bollocks, and was already being declared obsolete, a failed revolution whose initial shock had immediately faded into tame self-parody. As quick as punk emerged, a throng of bands started drifting away from the rock’n’roll punch of punk toward a broader post-punk sound. The original movement seemed happy to be a fleeting thing, a bomb that went off leaving nothing but shrapnel.

Air Fryer Sausage Balls are a perfect make-ahead breakfast that takes just a few minutes to cook in the Air Fryer. Mix up the Sausage Balls and store them uncooked in the freezer until you’re ready to cook them.

We've waited two years for the Nokia 9, and at the end of this month the company could finally put us out of our misery. Here's what we know about the Nokia 9 PureView, which could feature a penta-lens rear camera. Nokia made its comeback to the Android market in January 2017 with the Nokia 6, and we've been waiting two years now for its long-rumoured flagship Nokia 9 to arrive. At MWC 2018 we thought that time was here, and then we got the the Nokia 8 Sirocco. But now the wait could really, really be over, as the Nokia 9 is tipped to land before the end of January 2019.

LIKES Impressive powertrains, all of themGood looks from all body stylesStandard automatic emergency brakingBigger infotainment screen this yearGran Coupe is especially attractiveDISLIKES More for Apple CarPlay after first yearSmall-ish rear seatInterior can be a little dullLeather isn’t standardThe 2019 BMW 4-Series distills our favorite parts from the related 3-Series and packages them in a better shape. We’re not picky.

With an in-screen camera, the world's first 48Mp smartphone rear camera sensor, and a sparkling 'nanolithographic' rear, the Honor View 20 is the company's most beautiful flagship yet. Should I Buy The Honor View 20?The View 20 is stunning to look at - from just about any angle, thanks to the one-two punch of the pinhole camera on the front and the genuinely unique holographic V effect on the glass rear. The specs are plenty powerful to match, but it remains to be seen how the cameras themselves will hold up - high megapixel counts don't always mean a lot, and recent Honor devices have been hit or miss on actual photo quality. Still, if the price is as competitive as Honor usually manages, this could be one of 2019's first best phones.

Dell has shown off its latest Alienware Alienware 51m laptop at CES 2019 and is bucking the ‘smaller, thinner’ gaming laptop trend in favour of a new ‘bigger, stronger’ theme. Should I Buy The Alienware Area 51m?The Alienware Area 51m is all about power over portability.With hardware that puts high-end gaming desktops to shame, a slick new design language that brings a more mature feel to the Alienware brand and the ability to upgrade both the CPU and GPU - this laptop takes a step away from the average portable gaming laptop into something far more focused on the gaming experience.It's probably not going to be a best-seller due to its price and place in the market, but it's a fantastic product that brings some badly needed innovation to a market that is prone to becoming stale.

The latest compilation from Nina Kraviz’s label explores the fringes of techno with a twisted grin. Techno may come couched in an air of deep seriousness, but it is, in the end, largely party music. For all the admirable futurism that animated the genre’s Detroit pioneers, techno’s essence comes down to high-spirited youngsters dancing to silly mechanical noises in a darkened room. трип (Trip), Nina Kraviz’s fabulously individualistic techno label, innately grasps this. The label’s latest compilation, Happy New Year! We Wish You Happiness!, balances techno’s brutalist electronic edges with a welcome touch of the ridiculous.

The debut from the prodigious singer-songwriter is a fussy and affecting album of baroque art-rock that is crowded with ideas in the best way. J. Mamana is a young guy who has made a big record, full of vigor and oversized ideas that don’t quite fit him yet. After graduating from Brown University in 2016, he locked himself away—in the time-honored autodidact fashion—and emerged with the kind of elaborately footnoted baroque pop album that testifies to a lot of things—talent, vision, ambition, precocity. But above all, Nothing New in the West reflects a certain urgency of post-collegiate youth, when you have, at least for a brief moment, learned everything and need to share it all.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings are perfect for the next game night. The Air Fryer really makes the chicken wings nice and crispy with very little oil. Just slather them in BBQ sauce and you’ve got yourself a game-winning combo.

You probably know Synology for making NAS drives but the firm has also turned its hand to mesh networks. Here we review the MR2200ac. Should I Buy The Synology Mesh Router MR2200ac?Synology could do a little more to explain the many features of the MR2200ac for first-time users, but the strong performance of this mesh system, and the fine-control provided by its web browser interface make it a good option for business users or home users who have a little more experience of networking technology.

The 2020 Ford Explorer leapfrogs its dated predecessor with new underpinnings, stronger engines, and way more tech. We’re intrigued. The 2020 Ford Explorer has a new lease on life with its powerful turbocharged engines, wide array of standard active safety features, and new underpinnings. Ford ditches the outgoing model’s dated front-wheel-drive platform in favor of a new rear-drive crossover SUV architecture shared with the Lincoln Aviator.

Can Dell make its XPS 13 laptop any better? Well it's tried with a new 2019 model so we compare the two and explain what has and hasn't changed. Should I Buy The Dell XPS 13 9370 (2018) Or Dell XPS 13 (2019)?There’s a new XPS 13 in town but you’ll struggle to justify the upgrade from 2018’s model with namely a new webcam as a headline upgrade.Sure, there are other upgrades to the the core specs but for most people, these will be fairly insignificant. The inclusion of a cheaper Core i3 model is particularly interesting.

Dell's flagship laptop returns to us in 2019 with refreshed specs and a brand new webcam design. We look at the new XPS 13. Should I Buy The Dell XPS 13 (2019)?Dell's XPS line has long been one of the go-to choices for workers thanks to outstanding build quality and powerful, portable performance. The 2019 model continues this trend, and while not exactly starting any revolutions with new and improved features, it is still an extremely impressive device.The inclusion of a Core i3 model is particularly interesting, making the laptop cheaper and more accessible.

Of MIKE’s four projects last year, War in My Pen is the cleanest-sounding, but the New York rapper still prizes a faraway vibe that rewards close listening. MIKE murmurs more than he flows. The 20-year-old rapper doesn’t mix his vocals high or bury them; he floats, cushioned and suspended, within his music. He has a lot to say, but he doesn’t seem concerned about who hears it. He shares this lack of concern with his friends and compatriots in the sLUms crew—Medhane, Sixpress, Navy Blue, Jazz Jodi, several others. Together, they feel more like a huddle than a movement, a group of introverted, dreamy souls trying to hold on to something intangible that they sense might be pried from them.

This long-running Nashville duo captures the essence of their name with a low-slung, low-stakes sway, tracing a line between languid indie rock and experimental atmospheres. Band names are often brain blurts that someone thought sounded cool, funny, or sexy in the moment, so it’s best not to make too much of them. But the nebulous nature of instrumental music—especially ambient—is an exception. We’re built to make meaning from abstraction and find concepts within chaos; when we encounter an artifact consisting of inkblot drones and a minimalist painting, a single word can become an interpretive skeleton key, however inadvertent. By any other name, a Phoenix song would sound as sweet, but would you hear GAS the same way if it were called SOLID? What if the Orb were the Cube?

At just under £200, Ring's Spotlight Cam sits at the high-end of the smart camera market. Is it worth it? Find out in our review. Should I Buy The Ring Spotlight Cam?The Spotlight Cam was almost the perfect outdoor security camera – it’s compact, features LED strips, a built-in siren, two-way talk, a well-designed app and night vision capabilities – but with bad weather obscuring the camera from the inside, it could let you down when you need it most.

If you’re tired of the same old luxury options, the 2019 Lincoln Continental provides a refreshingly retro-cool alternative. The 2019 Lincoln Continental is a big, luxurious American sedan at a time when Americans are hardly buying big, luxurious American sedans anymore. Regardless, it’s a throwback ride with plenty of character, great value, lots of power, and a classic nameplate. We give it 7.5 out of 10 overall. Among European and Japanese rivals with established models – S-Class, 7 Series, LS – this Lincoln stands out for several reasons, chief among them its nameplate. With the Continental, Lincoln has one of the most storied American car names.

A solid product with a "next gen" feel and unlimited installs make AVG Ultimate well worth consideration. Should I Buy AVG Ultimate 2019?Unlimited installs and better facilities than many of its rivals make AVG Ultimate a winner for families. You'll find a huge selection of scans available, plus tools including PC Tune Up and a brilliant Android app.

Though similar to the OnePlus 6T the Oppo RX17 Pro is very different thanks to the software. Here’s our full review Should I Buy The Oppo RX17 Pro?The RX17 Pro is a great looking phone with good performance and a lush display. But with a Snapdragon 710 rather than the better 845 it’s just impossible not to compare it to the OnePlus 6T which looks the same, has better software for the western market and, importantly, costs less.If you like the look of Oppo’s interface though then there’s a lot to like. The two colour options are premium as is the build quality and the cameras are above average if not great.

The expertly sequenced and always vibrant debut from the Puerto Rican rapper collects every fascinating side of Bad Bunny into one singular statement. In the first three years of his nascent career, Bad Bunny put out enough singles and did enough guest features to fill out several albums. As an audition for pop superstardom, it’s been impressive. He can adapt to seemingly any style—trap, R&B, reggaetón, bachata, dembow—with a heavy, nasal croon perpetually drenched in Auto-Tune. He became a huge star in 2018, circumventing terrestrial radio and government censorship to become the third-most streamed artist in the world on YouTube. Why does Bad Bunny even need to release an album?

Though an accomplished actress, the French star fails to sell her cover of Kanye West’s “Runaway” on an EP that otherwise amounts to a deserved victory lap. Whether you blame Keanu Reeves and his grunge band Dogstar, DMX and his turn in Romeo Must Die, or any other entertainer who tries to parlay musical success into movies or vice versa, the public seems to have a general suspicion of that particular crossover, as if the two arts must sit eternally apart. Since making her film and music debuts in 1984, Charlotte Gainsbourg has been a pointed counterargument to this stubborn belief. She seems to ladle her voice and on-screen performances out of the same dramatic well, a sense captured by her gift for interpreting songs so that you believe them. “Lemon Incest,” her 1984 single alongside late father Serge Gainsbourg, prompted French scandal, as an entire nation seemed to fall for its provocative suggestion of pedophilia.

We investigate rumours surrounding the Moto Z4 Play, which could be announced in June 2019 with an in-display fingerprint sensor. Announced in June 2018, the Moto Z3 Play was never joined in the UK by the standard Moto Z3. It's possible that for the Z4 series we will again see only the Play model go on sale here, with the Moto Z4 Play expected to be announced in the UK in mid-2019.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado HD is at the end of its run for this generation but is more than worthy of consideration. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado HD is the end of the line-a new heavy-duty truck is on the way for 2020-but it’s worth a look for its numerous configurations, powerful engines, and impressive capability. We give it 6.3 out of 10, unable to award more points since it lacks fuel-economy and crash-test scores.

Motorola has long held the crown for best budget Android phone in the UK, and the Moto G6 could see a successor sooner than you think. We reveal the Moto G7 release date, price and specification rumours.

Nintendo's Switch console is readily available to buy in the UK, so we've taken a look at how it compares to Microsoft's Xbox One S in terms of price, design, specs, graphics, games and more. Should I Buy The Nintendo Switch Or Microsoft Xbox One S?The Xbox One S is slightly cheaper, and offers most of the standard big-budget videogames on some pretty powerful hardware, while the Switch gives some handy portable power, and the only surefire way to play Nintendo’s latest and greatest. If you already own a PS4, you might be better off grabbing the Switch for variety, but if you don’t own any console yet, the Xbox might be a safer start.

The second album from one of Atlanta’s most promising rappers recasts him as a star in waiting. He writes with grisly clarity and humor, and his songs here are sturdy, inventive, and sticky. The jarringly sober track “a lot,” which opens 21 Savage’s poised and superbly focused i am > i was, is contemplative without being dramatic, mournful but not morose. At one point, the 26-year-old recounts his little brother’s murder and how it warped his psychology, but he does so in a perfunctory way, like talking to a therapist who’s already familiar with the smaller details. It’s a great tone to strike first: moody at a bit of a remove.

These Australians became radio mainstays at home after missing the grunge gold rush, but their debut EP remains a potent encapsulation of alternative rock in the early 1990s. Despite the best efforts of satellite-radio stations and CNN documentaries, trying to distill an entire era of music into a tidy package inevitably yields myopic results. However, if you needed to provide a new listener with an instant snapshot of how alternative rock really sounded during the early 1990s in all its stringy-haired, secondhand-flannel glory, you could do far worse than Signs of Satanic Youth, the recently reissued 1993 debut EP from Australia’s Magic Dirt.